Business, general

Understanding and managing cynicism about organizational change

Article Abstract:

New initiatives tend to be greeted with cynicsm by some members of the organization. Unlike skeptics, which hope for success despite their doubts, cynics expect failure because of their loss of faith in their leaders. A study of cynicism about organizational change suggested that cynicism results from people's disposition, as well as from their perceptions of their organizations. The findings also indicated that cynical employees tend to show lower work motivation, satisfaction and commitment. Recommendations for managing and minimizing cynicism about change are offered.

A model of union membership: instrumentality, commitment, and opposition

Article Abstract:

Eight specific types of union members are identified and described. Four of these member types were developed based on an interactive relationship between union instrumentality and union commitment. The other four types were based on interactions between negative views of union ideology and union instrumentality. A theoretical model of the eight member types was used to synthesize the literature on union membership. Implications that the model has for research and for union growth and participation are discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)